Ash receptacle



Patented Sept. 23, 1941 mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Detroit, M1ch., a corporation of the United States Application March 17, 1937, Serial No. 131,293

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ash receptacles, and more particularly to tilting ash receptacles of the flush type commonly used in motor vehicles, busses, airplanes booths for serving refreshments, and other similar places.

The .general object of this invention is toprovide a novel and improved ash receptacle which greatly facilitates the operation of the receptacle during movement from closed to open position and provides better means for prevention of rat tles due to vibrations when used in an automobile or other moving. vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly which is economical to manufacture and which is rugged and reliable in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide in the cover and spring portion ofan ash receptacle bearing ribs to effect substantially a line contact between the spring member and the cover during tilting movement of the ash receptacle, thereby reducing the friction and wear to a minimum and producing a smoother spring controlled tilting movement.

A still further object of this invention is to pro- 1 vide a novel ash receptacle assembly wherein friction and rattle are substantially reduced by preventing contact between the flat surfaces of the side walls of the ash receiving box and the side edges of the openings in the mounting panel upon which the ash receptacle is mounted.

" Another and further object of this invention is to improve the fastening of the spring biasing member to the ash box to positively prevent its breaking loose therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to combine the movable portion of the pivotal means with the side walls of the ash receiving box.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a novel ash receptacle having a spheroidal shaped exterior face plate and a cubical or rectangularly shaped ash receiving box. 1 A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel ash receiver that may be manufactured from stamped sheet metal parts to accurate dimensions, in large quantities, at a' minimum cost.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following declosed position in the mounting panel;

scription, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ash receptacle assembly, with the ash receptacle in Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1 partly in cross section;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the ash receiver of Figure 1 in open position with a portion of the mounting panel and supportingwall broken away and sectionedto show the relationship between the top edge of one side wall'of the ash receiving box and the adjacent edge of the opening in the mounting panel;

Figure 4 is a plan view in section taken alon the line IV-- IV of Figure l;'- y

Figure 5 is a top view or the spring member employed on the ash receiver illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view ofthe upper portion of the ashreceiving box, with the side walls in'section and the spring sectioned along the line VIVI of Figure 5 to show the contact between the spring and. the cover ribs; 7

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating how the spring is locked to the rear walls of the ash receiving box; and

Figure 8 is a front view of the spring member illustrating the preferred configuration of the tail portion of the spring member which is arranged to be secured to the rear wall of the ash receiving box.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing there is shown therein; a support I upon which it is desired to mount an ash receptacle. Support l is providedwith a relatively large central opening 2, and relatively small side openings 3. A mounting panel 4 having an opening 5 is secured to the supportby bolts 6 and nuts 1 extending through theopenings 3 and 5. An opening 8 is also providedin the mounting panel smaller than opening 2 in the support and so disposed that when the mounting panel is attached to the support the confines of the opening 8 will lie wholly within theoonfines of opening 2.

A laterally extending cover member 9 is formed 'as a part of the mounting panel 4 by bending rearwardly apart of the stock out free when forming theop'ening 8 and curving itinto an arcuate form. Extending downwardly from the lower surface of the cover portion 9 or formed integrally therein are two spaced bearing ribs II). An offset H is formed in the lower surface of the cover 9 and adjacent its rear end by defleeting upwardly both the cover 9 and the ribs I0. In the cover 9 and adjacent the vertical wall of the support a rearwardly facing stop lug I2 may be formed by cutting the stock of the cover and forming it downwardly. The outer edge of the mounting panel 4 may be formed into a bead I3 serving both as an ornamental and a stiffening or reinforcing portion.

An open top ash receptacle or receiving box is mounted for tilting movement about the lower edge of the opening 8 and is adapted to be moved therein to the open and closed position shown in the drawing or removed therefrom entirely, as

will presently be explained. This box comprises a bottom wall I4, a front wall I5, a' rear wall I6, and two side walls II, the upper edges of the side walls IT being formed arcuate toconform generally with the arcuate cover portion 9 as shown in Figure 1.

The three walls I4, I5, and I8 of the ash receiving box may be blanked as a single piece from the sheet material stock. The piece may then be bent into U-shape and fastened to the side walls IT. The side walls may have flanges turned to engage the walls I4, I5 and I6, as shown in Figure 4, and these parts may be secured in position preferably by spot welding; A threepart box thus formed servesto reduce the cost of handling and assembling as compared with the cost of forming'the box out of five separate parts.

In order to minimize friction and wear between the fiat surfaces of the side walls I! and the side edges of the opening 8 in the mounting panel, the top arcuate edge of each side wall I! is provided with a bead I8 which extends laterally from its outer surface. As will be at once apparent to those skilled in theart, this provides a means for spacing the outer surfaces of the side walls of the box from the sides of the opening 8 and the mounting panel and prevents contact therebetween during tilting movement of the box thereby insuring a minimum of friction. These spacing ribs also materially assist in preventing rattling and noise from vibration, such as might be caused while a motor vehicle is in operation.

Projecting from the bottom wall I4 of the box or integral with the side walls I! are hinge or rocker parts I9 so formed that the ash receiving box may pivot upon the lower edge of the opening 8. Each hinge or rocker part I! includes a forward portion I90. which extends downwardly in front of the support I in close proximity to the bead I3, and a rear portion I9b which extends downwardly behind the support I. This provides a convenient and novel hinge arrangement which permits the box to be swung into and out of the opening, thus rendering the box accessible, when desired.

Frictional means is provided at the top of the assembly for biasing the ash receptacle in an open, closed or intermediate position comprising a leaf spring 20 which engages the under surface of the cover 9. The spring 20 preferably has a configuration similar to that illustrated in Figures 5 and 8 of the drawing and is secured to the rear wall I6 in some suitable manner as, for example, by forming spaced cars 30 in the rear wall and by bending them over the spring. Figure '7 is a fragmentary section showing one of the ears 30 bent over the spring. Lugs 3| on the spring are fitted between the ears 3!] and prevent any vertical movement between the spring and the box while the ears securely hold the spring against the box.

It has been found that when such springs are spot welded to the box some of them break loose by the strains imposed during movement of the box under resilient pressure. construction of the type described herein, such diificulties have been entirely overcome.

As will be seen best in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6 of the drawing, from where the spring is secured to the box it extends rearwardly, then upwardly, then forwardly over the rear wall of the box, then downwardly to form a rib, and then forwardly to form a free end portion adjacent the upper part of and within the box. A rounded contacting surface 2I is formed by the bend in the uppermost portion of the spring 28 to provide a bearing rib which resiliently contacts the spaced bearing ribs ID of the cover portion 9 to forcibly hold the hinge or rocker parts I9 against the lower edge of the opening 8 when the ash receiving box is in position in the opening. The portion of the spring 20 between the lugs 3| and the contact rib 2| is weakened as shown at 32 in order to space the point of bending away from the rib portion 2|.

When the ash receiving box approaches the closed position as shown in Figure l, the ribs 2I will be snapped by the spring action into the offset II in the cover to resiliently retain the box in closed position. An aperture 22 is cut in the rib portion 2| of the spring as best shown in Figures 5 and 6 to permit the spring Wall at the rear of the aperture to contact against the'stop lug I2 to positively stop forward tilting movement of the box and retain it as shown in Figure 3 until the box is returned to close position as shown in Figure l, or until it is entirely removed for emptying, as will presently be explained. Any quick forward movement of the box will be stopped by contact of these parts and prevent it from being accidentally pulled entirely out of the opening in the mounting panel.

The freeend of the spring 20 is extended forwardly as at 23 in Figures 3 and 5 and may be provided with an apertured depression 24 to insure a firm grip when it is to be manually actuated downwardly to release it from the stop I2 for removal of the box from the opening. When the box is tilted forwardly to expose the top opening, as shown in Figure 3, the free end portion should extend forwardly from the vertical wall of the mounting panel 4.

In order that the spring 20 may flex freely about the point at which it is secured to the ash receiving box, and to prevent a shift in the fulcrum point of the spring 20, the rear Wall I6 preferably does not extend up as high as the top rear edges of the side walls I! (see Figure 1). This facilitates operation of the spring 20, particularly when it is desired to completely remove the ash receiving box from the support I.

An ornamental face plate 21 is securely attached to the front wall I5 of the box in some suitable manner, such for example as by means of an actuating knob 26 which extends through an opening 25 in the wall I5. This ornamental plate 21 is larger than the opening 8 in the mounting panel 4 and has a curved surface. Its perimeter is circular and formed into a rounded flange 28 which lies within the stiffening bead I3 of the mounting panel 4, thus not only giving a pleasing appearance but also assisting in holding the box securely, eliminating rattles when in closed position as shown in Figure 1. Contact of the flange 28 against the mounting panel 4 also limits the inward tilting movement of the box. As will be readily appreciated from the various By employing a figures of the drawing, the general configuration of the ornamental face plate 21 is spheroidal.

Two openings 29 are cut through the rib 28 of the ornamental plate 21. They may be placed at difierent distances from the diameter that extend through the center of the opening 25. This allows the forward part [9a of the hinge or rocker part I9 to enter through the rim. The front wall l5 of the ash receiving box extends above the side wall I! far enough to engage within the rim 28 and is curved to correspond with the curve of the inner surface of the curved rim 28 0f the plate 21. It is entered in place and the part I9a passed through the notches 29, and the ornamental plate is rotated until the opening in it, through which the lmob 26 is secured, lines up with opening 25 in the front wall I5. The knob 26 is then attached by a suitable screw. The upper edge of the wall l5 and the part I 9a are within the curl 28 of the plate 21 and assist in holding the plate in place.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided an extraordinarily simple and improved ash receptacle and ash receptacle assembly which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is efiicient in use, and in which there is a minimum of friction and wear between the relatively moving elements of the assembly. Although I have illustrated a mounting panel in which the ash receiver is mounted and both the panel and ash receiver supported upon a support such as an instrument panel of an automobile, it is to be understood that the mounting panel may be omitted if desired and the ash receiver and cover mounted directly upon the support.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made; and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claim to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention: 7

In an ash receptacle assembly, the combination comprising a panel member having an opening therein, a box member having a front wall, a rear wall and side walls having curved top edges, a curved guiding plate overlying the top edges of said side walls for engagement with the same, a spring detent carried by the back wall of said box and extending forwardly over the top of the same and in pressure contacting engagement with the under side of the guiding plate, said guiding plate having ribs for engaging with said detent during movement of said receptacle into and out of said opening.

JOHN VISSER. 

